How to you speak or think to yourself when no one is around you? What is the first thing you say or think when you mess up? Do you beat yourself up or do you give yourself grace? Do your thoughts and words line up with what God says about you?
As a first-generation Christian, you may have family members and friends who think you have gone crazy. Following Jesus is so foreign to them and they don’t understand just yet what you believe because the Holy Spirit hasn’t revealed Himself to them.
You may have been told some things over the years by others that don’t line up with scripture; or you may have some perfectionist tendencies and expect yourself to just know things. Either way, these thoughts do not line up with what scripture says about you.
My Story
In my early 20’s as a second-generation Christian, I remember reading a book that helped me challenge my thoughts and help my thoughts align to the truth of God’s Word. It was one of the best books I have read on the topic. It was called “Telling Yourself the Truth.”
I remember temping as a receptionist for a few weeks on my summer break from college when I was reading this book. One of the workers at the company asked me what I was reading. I told him the name of the book. He laughed and said, “Why in the world would you lie to yourself?”
Such a great question!! I truly didn’t know how to answer him.
Fast forward thirty years, I am so thankful I took the time in my twenties to challenge my thoughts when “stinking thinking” would show up. Do you have any problems with “stinking thinking?” Do you need to challenge your thoughts with what God’s Word says about you?
What Are You Supposed to Do?
Being the first person in your family to accept Jesus has many blessings, but it also has many challenges. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- You don’t have to accept what others say about you if it doesn’t line up with scripture
- Ask God to help you learn what His Word says about you
- Read the Bible for 10 to 15 minutes each day (this will help you tons!)
Learning to replace any negative self-talk with what the Bible says about YOU will take time, but it can be done! As I said earlier, I used to struggle with my self-talk in my early twenties. I learned that I could challenge each and every thought with the TRUTH of God’s Word.
Over time, you can replace the lies satan wants you to believe. Your self-talk can be more in line with what God’s Word says about you.
John 14:16-17
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
In the passage above, it explains clearly that non-Christians can’t see what we see as believers. They can’t understand that things we understand about God because they don’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them (just yet) like you do. Please be patient with your non-Christian family and friends.
All scripture is from the NIV (New International Version).
Your Thoughts & What God Says About YOU
Below are some examples of what “Your Thoughts” may be and “What God Says About You.”
Your Thoughts: “I can’t figure things out.”
What God Says About You: “I will direct your steps”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Your Thoughts: “Nobody really loves me”
What God Says About You: “I love you”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Your Thoughts: “I can’t do it.”
What God Says About You: “I can do all things.”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Your Thoughts: “I can’t forgive myself.”
What God Says About You: “I forgive you.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Your Thoughts: “I’m afraid.”
What God Says About You: “I have not given you a spirit of fear.”
II Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR YOU:
1.What are some of negative self-talk phrases you say to yourself?
2. What are some negative phrases that others may say about you or that have been said about you in the past?
CHALLENGE:
I would encourage you to journal and challenge each and every negative thought or phrase you tell yourself with Bible verses that share the TRUTH about you. Write “What I Tell Myself” on the left side of a piece of paper or in your journal, draw a line in the middle and on the right side of the paper write “What God Say’s About Me.” Write your answers below each column. Find some Bible verses that would tell you the truth about you and write those down on the right side of the column.
I would also encourage you to do the same exercise above with any negative phrases that others may have said about you in the past. On the left side of the journal write, “What Others Have Said About Me,” draw a line in the middle of the page and on the right-side list on the top of the page, “What God Says About Me.” Write your answers below each column. Find some Bible verses that would tell you the truth about you and write those down on the right side of the column.
PRAYER:
Father,
Thank you so much for being my Heavenly Father. Thank you for creating me and loving me. Thank you for giving me to Holy Spirit to help me realize that I don’t have to believe in the lies that satan keeps telling me. Thank you that with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can challenge each and every thought with the truth of Your Word!
I want to learn what the Bible, says about me. Show me to I can replace each lie the enemy has been telling me with the TRUTH of what the Bible says about me. I don’t want the enemy to steal my joy any longer.
I pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HELPFUL RESOURCE(S):
Here are a couple of resources that may be helpful for you if you want to learn more about this topic of challenging your thoughts that may not align with God’s Word. There are many Christian resources that will be helpful on this topic. But these are the resources that I would recommend for you.
Telling Yourself the Truth by William Backus and Marie Chapian
Click the link for more information: Telling Yourself the Truth
Learning to Tell Myself the Truth by William Backus
Click the link for more information: Learning to Tell Myself the Truth
Affiliate Disclosure: “The links under the Helpful Resource” page of my blog are affiliate links. If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I personally trust and believe will benefit first generation Christians.”
Let’s stay in touch!
If this blog has helped you in any way or if you have a specific question regarding being a first-generation Christian, please email me at [email protected] or go to my website www.DeniseLBeyerle.com.
My desire is to provide encouragement, biblical teaching, and practical guidance for first generation Christians.
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